- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total time
- 50 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
- Calories
- 75 kcal
Quick summary
“The detox green smoothie blends fresh arugula, green apple with skin, ripe banana, and grated ginger in coconut water with lemon juice. The result is a thick and refreshing drink, with a balance between herbaceous notes, natural sweetness, and thermogenic acidity.”
What you need to know
- Arugula leaves provide chlorophyll and minerals with a characteristic peppery touch neutralized by the banana.
- Coconut water acts as a hydrating base rich in electrolytes, dispensing with the use of animal milk.
- Fresh grated ginger and lemon juice accelerate sensory freshness and provide active antioxidants.
Ingredients
Main
- 2 cups of arugula
- 1 green apple, chopped
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, grated
- 1 cup of coconut water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon of honey (optional)
Instructions
Principal
- First, wash the arugula and apple well. Cut the apple into smaller pieces.
- In the blender, add the arugula, chopped apple, banana, ginger, and lemon juice.
- Then, add the coconut water and, if desired, the honey to sweeten.
- Beat everything on high speed until the mixture is homogeneous and creamy.
- If the mixture is too thick, add more coconut water until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust the flavor if necessary, adding more lemon or honey.
- Pour the smoothie into glasses and decorate with a slice of lemon on the rim, if desired.
- Sirva imediatamente e aproveite!
Chef's tips
- Freeze the ripe banana in slices before blending to obtain a velvety sorbet texture without adding water ice cubes.
- Keep the green apple peel sanitized to take advantage of the pectin and polyphenols during blending in the blender.
- Beat at maximum speed for about 2 minutes to completely crush the arugula fibers and apple pieces.
Variations
- Add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or golden flaxseed to increase the amount of soluble fiber.
- Add 1/4 of a ripe avocado along with the banana to enrich the smoothie with monounsaturated fats.
- Add fresh mint leaves to the blender jar to elevate the feeling of freshness.
Substitutions
- The 2 cups of arugula can be replaced with fresh collard greens without the stem or raw spinach.
- Coconut water can be replaced by cold mineral water or cold green tea in the same measure of 1 cup.
- Honey can be replaced by cane molasses or natural sweetener based on stevia.
How to store
Consume the smoothie immediately after preparation to avoid the loss of nutrients and the oxidation of plant compounds. If you need to store it, keep it in a full thermos in the refrigerator for a maximum of 6 hours.
Can it be frozen?
The ready-made smoothie should not be frozen for liquid thawing, as it loses its creamy texture. However, you can freeze the liquid in popsicle molds to consume as a refreshing frozen dessert for up to 1 month.
What to serve with
Excellent for breakfast or pre-workout accompanied by scrambled eggs, slices of whole-wheat bread with olive oil, or a portion of Brazil nuts. It also acts as a water replenisher after physical activities.
Frequently asked questions
Can ginger be consumed raw in the recipe?
Yes, finely grated, raw ginger provides fresh and aromatic spicy notes without assaulting the palate when blended evenly.
Is it necessary to strain the smoothie before drinking?
It should not be strained; the purpose of the smoothie is to take advantage of all plant fibers in arugula and apple for gut health.
Does the flavor of arugula not make the drink bitter?
The sweetness of the ripe banana combined with the acidity of the green apple and lemon juice softens the bitterness of the arugula, leaving the flavor balanced.
Can I use spinach instead of arugula?
Yes, raw spinach has an even milder flavor than arugula and gives the smoothie an intense green color and a very creamy texture.
You might also like
